Australia surge to 277-run victory

Australia 9 for 602 dec and 1 for 202 dec beat England 157 and 370 (Collingwood 96, Pietersen 92) by 277 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out - England

Kevin Pietersen departs, Brett Lee celebrates © Getty Images

Australia needed just 19 overs on the final morning at Brisbane to wrap up the first Test by the whopping margin of 277 runs, as England's final five wickets folded for the addition of 77. Their slim chances of saving the game effectively ended after four balls when Kevin Pietersen flicked Brett Lee to Damien Martyn at short midwicket. He failed to add to his overnight 92.

Resuming on 293 for 7, England's hopes depended largely on some conflicting weather forecasts, but the day dawned bright and heroics rather than hail were needed. Lee took the new ball after the first delivery, and three balls later Pietersen was on his way.

Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles gave the vocal Barmy Army - sitting together for the first time in the match and relishing the freedom - some cheer with a few spirited blows, but Jones's breezy 33 ended when one from Glenn McGrath kept low from a good length and shattered his stumps via an inside edge.

Giles continued the resistance in partnership with Matthew Hoggard and peppered the off-side boundary with some effective cuts, but he too fell on the stroke of drinks, as Stuart Clark cramped him for room and Shane Warne at first slip took a comfortable catch from a thin deflection. The same combination dealt with Hoggard six overs later, and the end came swiftly when Harmison hooked Clark to McGrath at fine leg,

Australia's two injury worries - Ricky Ponting and McGrath - both took the field, but McGrath needed injections in his sore heel while Ponting's back was clearly still an issue as he stood stiffly at mid-off rather than his more customary slip.